Tag Archives: Moscow

It is hard to believe that this is my 13th post on the Ukrainian crisis so far, spanning 3 months, reporting in the modern form of journalism. Hundreds of people from over 30 different nations, including the major players in this crisis: the United States, Britain, Germany, France, and Russia. So now, I would like to discuss something that must be understood for the general public to understand my solutions to the crisis.

Ukraine is fighting an urban war against Russia. To explain this, let us go back to a few months ago, in March, when the conflict in the Crimean peninsula began. We saw the invasion of sovereign Ukrainian lands by soldiers without any distinguishable markings. The international community was stunned and many of us who understand foreign affairs cautiously warned that it may be the work of the Russian Federation.

It then became obvious that these “Pro-Russian Demonstrators” were in fact Russian troops, possibly part of the FSB, and definitely the Russian Army. By the end of March, Crimea had joined Russia through a corrupt referendum.

Pro-Russian Soldier Defending A Stronghold in east Ukraine. CreditHere.

The violence then moved to the east, where forces have been fighting for months in the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv. The fighting has been in the streets of urban cities, some using Molotov cocktails, guns, cobblestones, and other weapons. With this violence, along with the 40K Russian troops on the border armed for the invasion of Ukraine, it proves that it is Putin and his government causing this unrest.

The bulk of the violence has not been in rural areas, with large tanks and weapons of mass destructions as you would expect in an invasion. The violence has been in the cities, with Russian troops disguised as citizen protestors, and really the only typical large weapons of invasion involved are BTR quick-movement armored vehicles and fast-attack helicopters.

So how can we handle this violence? This is a new type of war, one where it is harder for the West to quell the violence peacefully. This is why I propose 3 actions that need to be taken by the US and UK governments now:

1) President Obama Needs To Garner Public Support For Future Actions By The US

This needs to occur before #2 or #3 can occur. He needs to address the American people in the same way he did in the Syrian conflict, sitting down and talk out what has happened, and why we need to take action upon it to prevent future bloodshed. I fully support every action he has taken so far, and I believe that an informed public will also.

2) Reinstate Anti-Missile Defense Systems In Poland

Ever since the first sparks of violence in Crimea, I have wholeheartedly advocated for the West to reinstate anti-missile defense systems in Poland, like they were in the Cold War. This will deter Mr. Putin from any movement west, toward the EU. Poland is one of our greatest allies around the world, and it is our obligation to protect them, and the rest of Europe.

3) Supply Non-Lethal Aid To Ukraine

Ukraine is not a stable economic nation, especially as this crisis is tarnishing its land. It needs help to prevent Russia from taking any more of its land. The fact is, however, the American people are a war-weary nation. That is why I am advocating for body armor, fuel, and food to be sent to the Ukrainians, things that will not cause direct lethal consequences but will help the Ukrainian people survive. It may become necessary for the American government to send light arms to the Ukrainian army due to its lack of equipment but only if this crisis continues, which I unfortunately foresee. That would come if no progress in quelling the violence occurs by the end of May.

This is the time for the US to take real action in Ukraine. No boots on the ground, but continue to hold military exercises in Poland, as well as reinstate anti-missile systems in Poland and to supply non-lethal aid to Ukraine. We must end this now, before Putin’s dream of a Eurasian Union comes upon us.

The crisis in Ukraine so far has been with casualties, but limited in death toll. But as May began, the toll soared as deadly gunfire a fire, and downed helicopters claimed the lives of at least 50 Pro-Russian demonstrators and Ukrainian soldiers.

Odessa, a city in Ukraine near the Black Sea, had been without heavy violence up until Friday. Police reported to the AP that 3 people had been killed and 15 wounded after Pro-Russian demonstrators and Ukrainian soldiers exchanged gunfire in the streets.

A trade union hall was later set on fire, presumed because of Molotov Cocktails, where over 40 people died and 174 were injured. The Ukrainian Interior Minister, Arsen Avakov, said, “We’re ready to hold talks with protesters or their representatives.” Avakov also said yesterday on the government website as troops surrounded Slovyansk. “But terrorists and armed separatists will only get the inevitable payback.”

As the Ukrainian government recaptured checkpoints outside the separatist city of Slovyansk, 3 separatists were killed and 2 were injured. The Ukrainian government is trying to recapture Slovyansk, along with other eastern Ukrainian cities, as part of its “anti-terror” operation.

Finally, the pro-Western government in Kiev said that 2 Ukrainian Army helicopters were brought down by missiles, killing 2 airmen. This is seen as proof of Moscow being behind this entire crisis.

Russia, after placing about 40000 troops along its eastern border with Ukraine, proclaimed one again its “right” to invade Ukraine to “protect” Russian speakers in the region. The Russian Ambassador to the United Nations said that Ukrainian authorities are using “heavy military force against peaceful protesters in a criminal misadventure,” while Russia is trying to wind down and end the crisis. He said the U.S. and the European Union should “stop toying with the destiny of the Ukrainian people.”

As Ukrainian elections are right around the corner on May 25th, President Obama warned Russia that if violence continues and the vote cannot be held, “we will not have a choice but to move forward,” with new sanctions. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the election “crucial” and said that she would support economic sanctions if the election is impeded by Russian-induced violence.